IDOC Parolee, Brother Had Illegal Guns, Safes Full Of Cocaine, Ecstasy, Mushrooms, Cash: Sheriff

CHICAGO HEIGHTS, IL — A tip about an Illinois Department of Corrections parolee selling drugs and possessing guns led to the recovery of multiple firearms and narcotics, as well as charges against the parolee and his brother, the Cook County Sheriff's Office said Monday.

At approximately 5:45 a.m. Jan. 22, Cook County Sheriff’s Police Organized Crime Division Investigators assisted IDOC parole agents with a home compliance check of Vetaw Jasper in the 1200 block of Park Avenue in Chicago Heights, the sheriff's office said.

During the search of the home, IDOC agents recovered a loaded firearm and an unloaded gun from Jasper’s bedroom. Officials say agents also recovered a loaded gun in the bedroom of Jasper’s brother Deandre Phillips, and a safe that contained suspect cannabis, psilocybin mushrooms, ammunition, and thousands of dollars. A second safe in the dining room, which used the same key as the safe that was found in Phillips’ bedroom, contained an unloaded firearm as well as suspect morphine, ecstasy, crack cocaine, cocaine, and additional cannabis, according to the sheriff's office.

Sheriff’s Police Investigators took Jasper, 35, and Phillips, 40, into custody. Neither man had a FOID card or a concealed carry license, the sheriff's office said.

Jasper was then charged with possession of a firearm, repeat felony offender.

Phillips was charged with felony counts of armed violence, possession of more than 500 grams of cannabis, manufacture/delivery of cannabis, possession of cocaine, manufacture/delivery of cocaine, possession of ecstasy, manufacture/delivery of ecstasy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of s substance with intent to deliver.

Phillips and Jasper were both ordered to Cook County Jail custody on Jan. 23 following their initial court appearances at the George N. Leighton Criminal Courthouse.